Detonating cap.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OSKAR MATTER, OF TROISDORF, GERMANY.

DETONATING CAP.

No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OSKAR MATTER, of

Troisdorf, Empire of Germany, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Detonating Caps, and do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates particularly to the preparation of caps for mining and military purposes, although it has application to many other uses.

It is well known that caps are frequently prepared containing as a main charge nitro bodies such, for example, as trinitrotoluol, tetranitromethylanilin, nitropentaerythrite, etc., and that a priming charge of fulminate of mercury or lead azid is added to the top thereof. Lead azid alone, when used as a priming charge, has the property of requiring a more intense fuse flame, while, on the other hand, fulminate of mercury, which detonates more readily, as a priming charge, is very sensitive to moisture. The effect of moisture upon fulminate of mercury is so great that if moisture is permitted to act on it for only a short time, it becomes entirely ineffective and results in misfires.

I have discovered a method of making caps which will obviate these difficulties. A cap made in accordance with my invention does not require such an intense fuse flame as lead azid alone, and is not subject to the effect of moisture, which is found in the case of fulminate of mercury.

While my invention is capable of being carried out in many different Ways, for the purposes of illustration I may produce a cap in the following manner: A cap is provided with a suitable quantity of an explosive nitro body such, for example, as t-rinitrotoluol. Upon this I place a top priming charge of about two-tenths of a gram of lead azid and on top of this I place a charge of fulminate of mercury or of a mixture of fulminate of mercury and potassium chlorate. This last charge may or may not be provided Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 11, 191 '7.

with an inner capsule. When caps are prepared 1n th1s manner they may be readily detonated by means of a fuse, and are quite I without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A cap comprising a main body of explosive and a priming charge located near the same, capable of being detonated by a moderately hot flame, and which is substantially unaffected by moisture, comprising a priming substance requiring an intense flame for detonation, and another priming substance sensitive to moisture placed on top of the first mentioned priming substance.

2. A cap comprising a main body of explosive comprising a nitro body, having on top of the same a body of explosive containing lead azid and a y f explosive coni I I, I

taining fulminate of mercury, the fulminate offinercury being placed on top of the lead an 3. A cap comprising a main body of explosive comprisin a nitro body, having on top of the same a ody of explosive containing lead azid and a body of explosive containing fulminate of mercury and chlorate of potash, the fulminate of mercury being placed on top of the lead azid. 4. A cap comprising a main body of explosive comprising 2. nitro body, having on top of the same a body of explosive containing lead azid and a body of explosive containing fulminate of mercury and chlorate of potash, the fulminate of mercury being placed on top of the lead azid and being located in an inner capsule.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand.

OSKAR MATTER. Witnesses:

MARTMANN BRAUNN, HANS DUMONT.

Copies of this patent may' be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G." 

